U.S. patent application number 11/455647 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-31 for fan assembly for vacuum cleaner.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG GWANGJU ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Seung-gee Hong, Sung-cheol Lee, Hyun-jun Oh, Hwa-gyu Song.
Application Number | 20070122276 11/455647 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37781971 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070122276 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oh; Hyun-jun ; et
al. |
May 31, 2007 |
Fan assembly for vacuum cleaner
Abstract
A fan assembly for a vacuum cleaner, comprising a motor, an
impeller rotatably coupled to the motor, and having a plurality of
impeller wings, and a diffuser having a plurality of diffuser wings
arranged along an outer circumference of the impeller. The
plurality of diffuser wings includes first and second parts, the
second part extending from an angle of the first part adjacent to
the outer circumference of the impeller.
Inventors: |
Oh; Hyun-jun; (Gwangju-city,
KR) ; Hong; Seung-gee; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Song;
Hwa-gyu; (Gwangju-city, KR) ; Lee; Sung-cheol;
(Gwangju-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BLANK ROME LLP
600 NEW HAMPSHIRE AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG GWANGJU ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
37781971 |
Appl. No.: |
11/455647 |
Filed: |
June 20, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
415/211.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L 5/22 20130101; A47L
9/0081 20130101; F04D 29/444 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
415/211.2 |
International
Class: |
F01D 9/00 20060101
F01D009/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 28, 2005 |
KR |
2005-114069 |
Claims
1. A fan assembly for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a motor; an
impeller rotatably coupled to the motor, and having a plurality of
impeller wings; and a diffuser having a plurality of diffuser wings
arranged along an outer circumference of the impeller, wherein each
of the plurality of diffuser wings includes first and second parts,
the second part extending at an angle from the first part, adjacent
to the outer circumference of the impeller.
2. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein a ratio between heights of
the second part and the first part of the diffuser wing is about
6:4.
3. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of diffuser
wings comprises a predetermined number of diffuser wings having
different height ratios between the second part and the first
part.
4. The fan assembly of claim 3, wherein groups of the diffuser
wings are repeatedly arranged.
5. The fan assembly of claim 3, wherein the height ratios of the
diffuser wings in one of the groups vary in sequence.
6. A fan assembly for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a motor; an
impeller rotatably coupled to the motor, and having a plurality of
impeller wings; and a diffuser having a plurality of diffuser wings
arranged along an outer circumference of the impeller, wherein the
plurality of diffuser wings include groups of diffuser wings so
that one group comprises a predetermined number of diffuser wings
with sides adjacent to the outer circumference of the impeller
having different sloping angles, and the groups are repeatedly
arranged.
7. The fan assembly of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of
diffuser wings includes first and second parts with the second part
extending at an angle from the first part.
8. A fan assembly for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a motor; an
impeller rotatably coupled to the motor, and having a plurality of
impeller wings; and a diffuser having a plurality of diffuser wings
arranged along an outer circumference of the impeller, wherein at
least 50% of the leading ends of the plurality of diffuser wings,
adjacent to the outer circumference of the impeller, include an
angled part and a vertical part vertically extended from the angled
part.
9. The fan assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of diffuser
wings are arranged in a manner such that the diffuser wings having
only the angled part and the diffuser wings having both the angled
part and the vertical part at the leading end adjacent to the outer
circumference of the impeller are alternately arranged.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 2005-114069, filed Nov. 28,
2005 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a vacuum cleaner. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a fan assembly for a
vacuum cleaner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Generally, vacuum cleaners generate a suction force that
draws in dust together with ambient air, and then separates and
collects the dust from the air using a dust collecting device. FIG.
1 shows an example of a prior art vacuum cleaner. Referring to FIG.
1, a vacuum cleaner 1 comprises a suction brush 2, an extension
pipe assembly 3, and a cleaner body 4. The suction brush 2 has a
suction port (not shown) at a lower side to draw in dust from a
surface being cleaned. The extension pipe assembly 3 interconnects
between the suction brush 2 and the cleaner body 4 and forms a
passage for the dust drawn in through the suction brush 2. The
cleaner body 4 includes a dust collecting device 6 and a fan
assembly 7. The dust collecting device 6 separates and collects the
dust from the drawn-in air. A dust bag or a cyclone dust collector
can be used for the dust collecting device 6. The fan assembly 7
generates a suction force for drawing in the air.
[0004] The fan assembly 7 comprises a motor 9, an impeller (not
shown), and a diffuser 8. The impeller is connected to a rotary
shaft of the motor 9 and rotated by the motor 9, thereby generating
the suction force for drawing in the air. The diffuser 8 induces
the air being discharged from the impeller toward the motor 9.
Therefore, the drawn-in air cools the motor 9 and exits to the
outside passing through a discharge port 5 of the cleaner body
4.
[0005] The conventional fan motor, as described above, generates a
wind noise due to a flow field formed around the air suction port
that collides with wings of the impeller, and generates a blade
passing frequency (BPF) noise caused by interaction between the
rotating impeller wings and the fixed wings of the diffuser. The
BPF noise refers to a peak noise generated at a BPF which the
impeller having certain number of wings passes through, and a
frequency corresponding to an integral multiple of the BPF. The BPF
noise in a vacuum cleaner is often very offensive to a user because
it is a strong high-frequency sound.
[0006] Korean Patent Registration No. 457551 discloses a fan motor
for solving such a problem, in which an upper end of the impeller
is protruded more than a lower end and a angled part is formed so
that a lower end of a diffuser entrance is protruded more than an
upper end. In this structure, the air passes through the lower end
of an impeller entrance and is introduced toward the diffuser
first, thereby preventing an air whirlpool from being formed at the
upper end of the diffuser entrance and accordingly reducing the BPF
noise.
[0007] However, because the lower end of the diffuser entrance
protrudes, the airflow may become turbulent at the lower end of the
diffuser entrance, accordingly causing multiple air whirlpools.
Simultaneously, the diffuser wings, leading ends of which are
angleded at the same angle, may cause BPF noise because the same
frequencies are superposed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] An aspect of the present invention is to solve at least the
above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the
advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present
invention is to provide a fan assembly for a vacuum cleaner, which
is capable of reducing noise generated by an air whirlpool by
preventing the air whirlpool from generating at upper and lower
ends of a diffuser channel entrance.
[0009] In order to achieve the above-described aspects of the
present invention, there is provided a fan assembly for a vacuum
cleaner, comprising a motor; an impeller rotatably coupled to the
motor, and having a plurality of impeller wings; and a diffuser
having a plurality of diffuser wings arranged along an outer
circumference of the impeller, wherein each of the plurality of
diffuser wings includes first and second parts, the second part
extending at an angle from the first part adjacent to the outer
circumference of the impeller.
[0010] The plurality of diffuser wings may be classified into
groups so that one group comprises predetermined number of diffuser
wings having different height ratios of the second part and the
first part, and the groups are repeatedly arranged. Preferably, the
height ratios of the diffuser wings in the one group vary in
sequence.
[0011] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a
fan assembly for a vacuum cleaner, comprises a motor; an impeller
rotatably coupled to the motor, and having a plurality of impeller
wings; and a diffuser having a plurality of diffuser wings arranged
along an outer circumference of the impeller. The plurality of
diffuser wings are classified into groups so that one group
comprises predetermined number of diffuser wings of which one side
adjacent to the outer circumference of the impeller have different
sloping angles, and the groups are repeatedly arranged.
[0012] The plurality of diffuser wings may include an angled part
and a vertical part vertically extending from the angled part, on
one side adjacent to the outer circumference of the impeller.
[0013] According to yet another embodiment of the present
invention, a fan assembly for a vacuum cleaner, comprises a motor;
an impeller rotatably coupled to the motor, and having a plurality
of impeller wings; and a diffuser having a plurality of diffuser
wings arranged along an outer circumference of the impeller,
wherein at least 50% of the leading ends of the plurality of
diffuser wings, adjacent to the outer circumference of the
impeller, include both an angled part and a vertical part
vertically extended from the angled part.
[0014] The plurality of diffuser wings may be arranged in a manner
that the diffuser wings having only the angled part and the
diffuser wings having both the angled part and the vertical part at
the leading end adjacent to the outer circumference of the impeller
are alternately arranged.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0015] The above aspect and other features of the present invention
will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary
embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawing figures,
wherein;
[0016] FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a
conventional vacuum cleaner;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a fan assembly in
section for a vacuum cleaner, according to an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an impeller of the fan
assembly for a vacuum cleaner of FIG. 2;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a diffuser of the fan
assembly for a vacuum cleaner of FIG. 2;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the diffuser of FIG. 4;
[0021] FIGS. 6A through 6C schematically show respectively
different arrangements of wings of the diffuser of FIG. 4;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a diffuser of the fan
assembly for a vacuum cleaner of FIG. 2, according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a side view showing a wing of the diffuser of FIG.
6;
[0024] FIGS. 9A and 9B are graphs comparing first and second blade
passing frequency (BPF) noises in the present invention and the
prior art; and
[0025] FIGS. 10A through 10C schematically show respectively
different arrangements of wings of the diffuser of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Hereinafter, certain embodiments of the present invention
will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawing figures.
[0027] In the following description, same drawing reference
numerals are used for the same elements even in different drawings.
The matters defined in the description such as a detailed
construction and elements are nothing but the ones provided to
assist in a comprehensive understanding of the invention. Thus, it
is apparent that the present invention can be carried out without
those defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions
are not described in detail since they would obscure the invention
in unnecessary detail.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, a fan assembly 400 for a vacuum cleaner
comprises a motor 100, an upper cover 150, an impeller 200, and a
diffuser 300, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The motor 100 rotates the impeller 200. Generally, a motor for a
vacuum cleaner having approximately 30,000.about.36,000 rpm and
approximately 1,000.about.2,000 W may be used. However, other
various motors can be adopted as the motor 100 according to the
present invention.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 3, the upper cover 150 covers an upper
part of the impeller 200 and the diffuser 300, thereby forming a
space for the impeller 200 to rotate in. Also, the upper cover 150
prevents the air being discharged from the impeller 200 from
leaking through the upper end of the diffuser 300. The impeller 200
is driven by the motor 100 and generates a suction force for
drawing in air. The impeller 200 comprises upper and lower boards
220 and 210, and a plurality of impeller wings 230.
[0030] The upper board 220 has a disc shape and includes an air
suction hole 250 at the center thereof. The lower board 210 also
has a disc shape corresponding to the upper board 220. The center
portion of the lower board 210 is fixed to a motor shaft 110 (See
FIG. 2). The plurality of impeller wings 230 are radially arranged
at certain intervals between the upper and the lower boards 220 and
210, and may be curved. The air drawn in through the air suction
hole 250 of the upper board 220 is discharged to the outside of the
impeller 200 through a plurality of air channels formed by the
impeller wings 230.
[0031] The diffuser 300 increases pressure of the air being
discharged from the impeller 200 and guides the air to the motor
110. Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the diffuser 300 comprises a
diffuser board 315, a plurality of diffuser wings 310, and a
plurality of diffuser guide wings 330 (See FIG. 2). The diffuser
board 315 is shaped as a disc and interposed between the impeller
200 and the motor 100. The diffuser board 315 has a penetration
hole 340 which the motor shaft 110 passes through, at the center
thereof. The plurality of diffuser wings 310 are radially arranged
at certain intervals along an outer circumference of the diffuser
board 315. Each space between two diffuser wings 310 serves as a
diffusing channel 360.
[0032] A leading end of the diffuser wing 310, adjacent to the
impeller 200, forms the entrance of the diffusing channels 360.
Here, the plurality of diffuser wings 310 may be curved. The
plurality of diffuser guide wings 330 are radially arranged at
certain intervals at a lower side of the diffuser board 315. Each
space between two diffuser guide wings 330 forms a guiding channel
370.
[0033] The plurality of diffuser guide wings 330 are configured to
guide the air being drawn in from the plurality of diffusing
channels 360 toward the motor 100. Additionally, an opening 350 is
formed on the diffuser board 315 for fluid communication of an end
of each diffusing channel 360 with the guiding channel 370. The
opening 350 enclosed by an upper cover 150 forms an outlet of the
diffusing channel 360. Therefore, the air passed through the
plurality of diffusing channels 360 is moved to the plurality of
guiding channels 370 through the opening 350 and then guided toward
the motor 100. A angled part 310A sloped by a predetermined angle
in an air flowing direction is formed at the leading end of each
diffuser wing 310, which forms the entrance 360A of each diffusing
channel 360.
[0034] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the
sloping angles of the angled parts 310A are varied, and the
diffuser wings 310 having the angled parts 310A comprising the
various sloping angles are classified as one group. When such
groups are repeatedly arranged, increase of the BPF noise caused by
the same frequencies superposed can be prevented. The arrangement
of the diffuser wings 310 may be various. More specifically, for
example, three diffuser wings 311, 312 and 313 including the angled
parts 311A, 312A and 313A having respectively different sloping
angles .theta.1, .theta.2 and .theta.3
(.theta.1>.theta.2>.theta.3) may be arranged in sequence
where the sloping angles .theta.1, .theta.2 and .theta.3 are
increasing, as shown in FIG. 6A, or decreasing as shown in FIG. 6B.
As shown in FIG. 6C, the diffuser wings 311, 312 and 313 may be
arranged irregularly, that is, regardless of the sloping angles
.theta.1, .theta.2 and .theta.3.
[0035] The noise generated by the superposed frequencies can be
considerably reduced through the embodiment of the present
invention by properly arranging the diffuser wings 311, 312 and 313
having the differently sloped angled or angled parts 311A, 312A and
313A.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 7, according to another embodiment of the
present invention, an alternative diffuser wing 320 includes a
leading end which forms the entrance 360A of the diffusing channel
360 comprises an angled part 320A sloped by a predetermined angle
in the air flowing direction and a vertical part 320B vertically
extending from the angled part 320A.
[0037] Because the diffuser wing 320 includes both the angled part
320A and the vertical part 320B, generation of air whirlpools at
the lower end of the entrance 360A of the diffusing channel 360 can
be restrained.
[0038] More particularly, in the another embodiment of the present
invention, a lower part of the leading end of the diffuser wing 320
is formed into the vertical part 320B having a predetermined height
H2 (FIG. 8) so that the lower part of the diffuser wing 320 that
contacts with the diffuser board 315 does not protrude, thereby
preventing an air whirlpool from generating at the lower end of the
diffusing channel 360. Also, the angled part 320A extending from an
upper end of the vertical part 320B guides the air that passes
through the lower end of an outlet 240 (FIG. 3) of the impeller 200
to the diffuser 300 before the air passes through the uppermost end
of the outlet 240. Accordingly, generation of air whirlpools at the
lower end of the diffusing channel 360 can be prevented.
Furthermore, generation of air whirlpools can be prevented at the
upper and lower ends of the entrance 360A of the diffusing channel
360 as well. As a result, the noise generated from the fan motor
can be wholly attenuated.
[0039] Noise reduction efficiency may vary according to the height
ratio (H1:H2) between the angled parts and the vertical parts. For
example, if H1 denotes the height of the angled part 320A, and
border P (FIG. 8) between the angled part 320A and the vertical
part 320B approximates the diffuser board 315, then height H2 of
the vertical part 320B decreases while height H1 of the angled part
320A increases. In that state, the possibility of generating an air
whirlpool at the lower end of the entrance 360A of the diffusing
channel 360 increases. If the border P approximates the upper end
of the diffuser wing 320, than height H1 of the angled part 320A
decreases and height H2 of the vertical part 320B increases.
Therefore, the possibility of generating an air whirlpool at the
upper end of the entrance of the diffusing channel 360
increases.
[0040] Accordingly, heights of the angled part 320A and the
vertical part 320B, and the height ratio H1:H2 should be
considered. It is preferred that the height H1 is set greater than
the height H2, for example, so that the height ratio H1:H2 is about
6:4.
[0041] The BPF noises according to shapes of the leading end of the
diffuser wings are compared with respect to the conventional art
and the embodiment of the present invention, as shown by graphs of
FIGS. 9A and 9B. The graph of FIG. 9A shows the result of measuring
a first BPF noise. When a back pressure is 2000 mm H2O, the noise
in the embodiment of the present invention is approximately 66 dB
whereas the noise in the conventional art is approximately 74 dB.
That is, the noise is reduced in the present invention by
approximately 8 dB.
[0042] The graph of FIG. 9B shows the result of measuring a second
BPF, that is, a harmonic BPF corresponding to the integral multiple
of the first noise. When a back pressure is 2000 mm H2O, the noise
in the embodiment of the present invention is approximately 66 dB
whereas the noise in the conventional art is approximately 73 dB.
In other words, the noise is reduced in the present invention by
approximately 7 dB. Thus, the embodiment of the present invention
is able to significantly reduce the BPF noise in comparison with
the conventional art.
[0043] According to another embodiment of the present invention,
three diffuser wings 321, 322 and 323 respectively comprising
angled parts 321A, 322A and 323A and vertical parts 321B, 322B and
323B, in which the height ratios H1:H2 are differently set, are
arranged in order of decreasing the height H2, as shown in FIG.
10A, and increasing the height H2, as shown in FIG. 10B. As shown
in FIG. 10C, the three diffuser wings 321, 322 and 323 may be
arranged irregularly.
[0044] According to the present embodiment, as well as the noise
generated by the superposed frequencies, air whirlpools generated
at the lower end of the leading end of the diffuser wings 321, 322
and 323 can be reduced by properly arranging the diffuser wings
321, 322 and 323 having the different height ratios H1:H2 of the
angled parts 321A, 322A and 323A and the vertical parts 321B, 322B
and 323B.
[0045] The plurality of diffuser wings of the present invention may
comprise only the angled part 310A or both the angled part 320A and
the vertical part 320B. Noise reducing effect is high when at least
50% of the diffuser wings have both the angled part 320A and the
vertical part 320B. In addition, the diffuser wings having only the
angled part 310A and the diffuser wings having both the angled part
320A and the vertical part 320B may be alternately arranged one by
one.
[0046] Hereinafter, the operation of the fan assembly 40 for a
vacuum cleaner as described above will be described with reference
to FIGS. 2 through 4.
[0047] As the motor 100 rotates, the impeller 200 fixed to the
motor shaft 110 is rotated. When the impeller 200 rotates, the air
is drawn in through the air suction port 250 and discharged to the
diffuser 300 through the outlet of the impeller 200.
[0048] The air discharged from the impeller 200 is drawn in through
the entrance 360A of the diffusing channel 360, passed through the
diffusing channel 360, and discharged to the guiding channel 370
through the opening 350 which is the outlet of the diffusing
channel 360. Since superposition of the same frequencies is
prevented by the diffuser wings 310 of which the leading ends are
arranged by respectively different angles, increase of the BPF
noised can also be prevented. As shown in FIG. 7, the angled part
320A and the vertical part 320B of the diffuser wings 320 restrain
air whirlpools from generating at the upper and the lower ends of
the diffusing channel 360, thereby minimizing the BPF noise caused
by rotation of the impeller 200. Then, the air drawn into the
guiding channel 370 is passed through the motor 100 and discharged
to the outside of the cleaner body through the outlet.
[0049] According to the embodiments of the present invention, the
BPF noise can be minimized by preventing air whirlpools from
generating at the upper and the lower ends of the entrance 360A of
the diffusing channel 360. In addition, since superposition of the
same frequency, caused by varied shapes of the diffuser wings, can
be avoided, increase in noise can be prevented. Furthermore, the
suction force of the vacuum cleaner can be constantly maintained,
by configuring the diffusing channel 360 so that the pressure is
evenly generated at each diffusing channel 360.
[0050] While the invention has been shown and described with
reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by
those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details
may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *